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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, MARCH 2017
EDUCATION
RECIPROCAL VISIT OF TAMARA MITCHELL TO THE UK Phoebe Lamb and Tamara Mitchell
Left to right: Margaret Ginman and Phoebe Lamb.
In the first week of July 2016, one of the Rowse/Bee Farmers’ Association (BFA) apprentices, Phoebe Lamb, from Beeworthy Hives, Staffordshire, welcomed Tamara Mitchell, of Kaimai Range Honey Ltd, all the way from New Zealand. Phoebe spent some weeks working on the Mitchell’s honey farm in January this year—an opportunity provided by the BFA to willing apprentices in their first and second years (see Bee Farmer, 2 (2), 04/2016, pp 3–9). Phoebe’s experience Phoebe describes the experience in her own words: ‘It was great to see Tamara again while she was holidaying in the United Kingdom (UK). We had so much to catch up on since I came home from New Zealand and she was keen to learn as much as she could about how we keep our bees and operate our business. Of course, Tamara’s family and employees manage over 1500 colonies on the North Island of New Zealand, so our bee farm is comparatively small, but I was pleased to witness her enthusiasm as we compared hive types, methods of queen rearing, splitting and combining, extracting, feeding, overwintering and pest management.
‘Tamara was keen to fit into the schedule of our working week, accompanying us to out-apiaries and assisting in all aspects of our work. At only 20 years of age, Tamara has over ten years experience handling honey bees and her competence is clear from the outset. I was thrilled to see Tamara again and we continue to stay in touch using social media, comparing notes on all sorts of things, both bee-related and otherwise! Her family, the Mitchells, were ever so kind to allow me to stay with them to learn as much as I did. Similarly, we were very lucky to host Tamara for a week. Sorry for the incessant questions, Tam!’ Tamara’s view Tamara said: ‘As it is winter over in New Zealand now, I have had the opportunity to spend some time with my dad’s side of the family, in Cornwall, UK, as well as to visit Phoebe and her family. ‘I got to help them check several apiaries. The final day I went out with them, it was such a clear sunny day—I could tell the bees were loving it! ‘I was interested to hear that they use the same criteria as my own parents when choosing apiary sites, although in New Zealand we prefer afternoon sun on the hive entrances. The Shaws (Phoebe’s parents) explained that they point their hive entrances towards the morning sun. ‘Being used to the friendly bees of home, I was told to be careful when handling British bees. I was pleasantly surprised when I was around even the largest colonies that they were calm and a joy to work with. ‘I also got to see how the Shaws extracted, packed and sold their honey, which was awesome—they have a great set up! ‘As a younger beekeeper, I am so grateful for the experience to see how other people around the world keep their bees. Even though my family and I manage hundreds more colonies, it is good to be able to assess the similarities and differences of both businesses. ‘Ten out of ten experience for the beekeeping and the hospitality!’
Radio Day Apprentice, Phoebe Lamb, and Bee Farmers’ Association general secretary, Margaret Ginman, reached more than ten million listeners during a radio day set up by partners Rowse Honey. Throughout the day they spoke to Jazz FM, Talk Radio, Radio Gloucester, Radio Borders, Yorkshire Coast, BBC Five Live and twenty other radio stations. Feedback came thick and fast when the item was picked up for BBC Radio 2 and it featured on its news bulletin throughout the afternoon. Secretary of the Bee Farmers’ Association, and Bee Farmer editor Alex Ellis for permission to reprint and supplying photographs, some of which are reprinted here. Thanks also to Apiculture New Zealand Waikato Hub member Pauline Bassett for liaising with the Bee Farmers’ Association to obtain permission to reprint these articles. Sources Ginman, M. (2016, Apr). Apprentices in New Zealand. Bee Farmer, 2 (2), 4–9. Lamb, P, & Mitchell, T. (2016, Aug). A visitor from New Zealand. Bee Farmer, 2 (4), 28. Photography: Isaac Knap, Phoebe Lamb and supplied by Sebastian Leaver. [Editor’s note: see page 17 for a photo essay about Phoebe Lamb’s summer with Kaimai Range Honey, and look out for a follow-up article about the Mitchells’ trip to the UK.] Acknowledgements Thanks to Margaret Ginman, General
Tamara (left) and Phoebe (right).
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